GOP bill has major typo on jobless rate

Associated Press

5:12 PM, Jul 25, 2012

5:15 PM, Jul 25, 2012

112th Congress (Jan. 5, 2011)

WASHINGTON - A House Republican bill is designed to freeze major government regulations until the unemployment rate reaches 6 percent or below. An error in drafting the bill, however, turns that goal upside down.

The bill debated Wednesday says the freeze should stay on until the employment rate equals 6 percent or less. That means there would be a freeze until the unemployment rate reached 94 percent.

The mistake was pointed out by Rep. Gerald Connolly, a Virginia Democrat who opposes the bill. Chairman Darrell Issa of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the bill's chief supporter, said the mistake was made by professional staff without any partisan motive.

The current unemployment rate is 8.2 percent.

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